Belle Vue Kriek - Brasserie Belle-Vue

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Many thanks and big ups to Jerriko for picking this (and a few other) CAN up for me during his recent trip to Japan. I had no idea that they CANned lambics, but that question has been broached in the past and now it has been answered.

From the CAN: "La Biere de Bruxelles"; "Biere Murie en Tonneaux"; "Lambic aux Cerises" plus the same in Flemish.

The Crack & Glug produced two big, rocky fingers of cotton candy-pink head with good retention. The room filled with the smell of sweet cherries! Color was a very pretty ruby red with NE-quality clarity. Leaning in, the cherry smell was definitely of sweet cherries, as opposed to sour ones, which go into New Glarus' Wisconsin Belgian Red. Mouthfeel was big and full with a dryness borne less of the cherries than of the beer's maturation in oak barrels along with the wild yeast. It was not too sweet, but it was not as sour or funky as many other Krieks that I have had. One reviewer characterized it as a "chick's beer", but just because it is made from fruit does not mean women are necessarily going to flock to it. Instead, it is more like a good introductory beer to the style, fitting for anyone, especially the curious. Finish was slightly dry and very refreshing, but one at a time would be plenty. I would put some in the cooler if asked to do so, but I am not going to put it in of my own volition.

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 21:48:12 | More by woodychandler

JeremyBrews

Japan

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Billowy layer of head that recedes slowly. Nice lacing. Thick but translucent to light. Cherry cherry, domestic berry.

S- Sour cherries complemented by a slight waft of airplane model glue. Perhaps the off-scent is due to the lambic-style wild yeast?

T- Sweet cherries, sour wild yeasts. Not going to make it any more complicated than it is.

M- Fizzy, medium-light body that coats somewhat.

D- Overwhelmingly cherry beverage with no noticeable malt or hop flavor or aroma. Although I don't appreciate the lack of these typical beer qualities, to be fair, I haven't tried enough lambics to judge this beer against its brethren, so I ranked it as average.

Serving type: can

10-27-2009 08:56:02 | More by JeremyBrews

jeranbrews

New York

3.13/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - About 1.5 fingers of lite fluffy care-bear pink head that settled quickly. It came with crazy-strong spider-man-action lacing on the sides of the glass all the way to the last drop. The color of the beer was like strawberry jelly or cough syrup. No bubbling.

S - Smells of cherry candy, that kind of sweet, artificial smell. It reminded me of scented markers and a jar of jam.

T - A strong sour-sweet taste at the beginning with a very very faint yeastyness. The aftertaste had kind of a pungent orange peel flavor (kind of like that Orange-clean stuff you use to scrub counter tops).

M - The mild tangyness of the beer clings to the inside of the mouth with a film, kind of like a half-shot of olive oil. No detectable carbonation.

D - This is a drinkable beer. Fruity, sweet, a good chick drink, but overall the flavor was too simple. There are no strong characteristics about this. Cherry coke is cheaper and gives almost the same buzz.

Serving type: can

10-26-2009 14:35:39 | More by jeranbrews

francisweizen

Australia

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Drunk from a can, on the streets of Belgium. The aroma was artificial cherries and sugar. The taste was the same. The mouthfeel was light, and fizzy like diet cola, and the drinkability was not the best. I mean c'mon lambic beers in cans. ONLY IN BELGIUM!

Serving type: can

11-06-2003 17:38:06 | More by francisweizen

StevieW

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. can brought back from belgium last summer. Found on the shelve this morning and consumed. Freshness date on the bottom was "20/02/02"

Deep reddish to brown color. Produced a fizzy off-whtie head. Smell was full of cherries and sourlike beer combination. Taste was lip puckering sour shot of black cherries and sweet finish. Not syrupy in the least bit, more of a thinner watery finish than I expected. I have had better lambics and better kreiks. Doesn't compare to the New Glarus product. Still it is a decent after dinner finisher, matches well with chocolate.

Serving type: can

11-03-2002 19:46:58 | More by StevieW

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.19/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A vibrant red,clear beer with a smooth head. The carbonation is light.

The smell is mainly cherry, with a slightly syrupy smell, but not overly sweet or artificial.
It does have some red fruity winegums smells.

The taste is sweet with cherry winegums. The beer is sweet but not sticky or syrupy. The beer has a non-offensive taste which reminds more of a soda. The good thing about the beer is the lack of the sweetener taste. Bitterness is low and drinkability is high.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 20:47:53 | More by Absumaster

devlishdamsel

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rarely would I ever review off memory, especially after reading the site guidelines. However if something really strikes my fancy palate wise I do believe i have an impeccable palate memory in that situation. This brew is no exception. Sadly it is no longer available in my area, which makes me pine it/crave it even more. I have tried many Krieks since and not been impressed. Most are way too dry and remind me of sour cherries gone wrong, or are much to sweet and can only be made palatable by mixing them with sparkling wine and citrus ( which if you ask me is just wrong).
Bellevue had a very wonderful light head. I dare say this brew was perfect for the summer days I consumed it on. The perfect amount of tartness vs sweetness ( and this goes for most fruit based lambic style beers as well). There was absolutely no aftertaste or lingering on the palate either. If you have this beverage available in your area I strongly suggest you try it!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 05:46:13 | More by devlishdamsel

Maakun

Afghanistan

3.2/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Colour is dark pink, almost red. Light pink head that leaves a small layer.

Smell is cherry jam, very sweet, icing sugar, pink bubblegum. Smells a little artificial to me, not enough beer in here.

Taste is very sweet at first, the cherries taste more like candy than like real cherries. Then a nice tartness and very light bitterness. Aftertaste is again slighty sour with a hint of malts.

Mouth is medium, the sweetness makes it nice and round. Medium carbonation. Quite pleasant but nothing special either.

I can quite enjoy a kriek, but this one is more for drinking at parties than for slowly enjoying it at home. There's a lot worse kriek out there, but this still feels artificial and candy-like.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 20:27:46 | More by Maakun

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.7/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a flute glass. Reddish hue with a red tinted finger of head.
It smells like bread and faintly of cherry.
It has a sweet taste overall, candy cherry too.
Medium body, moderate carbonation. Crisp texture.
Okay, but there are better Krieks out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:38:24 | More by Fatehunter

shigg85

Japan

3.85/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a bottle of this at a Thai restaurant in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Poured into a Belle-Vue tulip glass. Cherries is the key word for this strange carbonated lambic brew. The scent of cherries is a bit overpowering, but definitely not unpleasant. The head on this brew was beautiful to look at, rosy in hue and leaving a thin, delicate lacing around the glass, bubbling up in the middle as a good Belgian beer should. However, the carbonation in this was a bit much for me, feeling more like cream soda than a beer. The flavor, too, while it was definitely cherry, was a bit too sour and not really resembling a beer (even for a lambic). Overall, this is a tasty cherry drink that would go over well with those who don't like the taste of standard brews. However, when it comes to fruit beers and lambics, I know other brands I will choose again over this. Tasty though...

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 13:59:30 | More by shigg85

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.18/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A deep, dark red colour with a thin and bubly, white head that is just under a centimetre tall and has average retention.

Sweet cherry smelling with lots of sugar and a slight bit of sourness, although the najority of the aroma comes from the cherries.

Again a sweet cherry taste with some syrup and sugar but like the smell there is not a lot else here really. A little too sweet and overpowering but not a terrible taste.

Light bodied and as expected, very sweet tasting with a sticky smooth finish.

Nice and sweet to begin with but after a while it gets a little bit too sugary and sickening, I imagine half a pint of this would have been a more appropriate amount to try.

1001 Beers Blog:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 13:06:37 | More by flyingpig

Douberd

Netherlands

3.1/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured, from a 300 ml bottle. A 2 finger head, disappeared almost completely after half a minute. Lacing on the glass is minimal.
Bright red colour, that of a cherrie juice, minimal bubbles.
Strong sweet smell of sour cherries.
Taste is also of sour cherries, but much more artificial than the aroma was. Also, a bit of corn (?)
Thin bodied as expected, little carbonation.

I would like it a bit more sweet, as a fruity beer, but not that bad after all.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 21:57:40 | More by Douberd

deebo

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Ruby red with pint tints-perfectly clear with a distinct fluffy white head.

Overall-An attractive beer which I think has a very nice balance between sweet and sour which gives this beer high drinkability. Not a lot of complexity present but definitely has some wild yeast funk.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 18:04:01 | More by deebo

dgilks

Australia

3.53/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear red colour with a smooth, creamy, light pink colour with good lacing.

Jammy, raspberry and cherry aroma with plenty of sweet and sour.

Fairly empty accept for the syrupy, jammy fruit flavour combined with an artificial tartness.

Medium body with moderately-high carbonation. Okay.

An acceptable, sweetened Kriek but it's nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 10:35:53 | More by dgilks

rvdoorn

Netherlands

1.78/5  rDev -48.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

look: the beer pours a nice deep red colour with a nice not long lasting head.
Smell: vinegar and candy cherries
taste: sweet sweet cherries, almost like the candy ones you give to children.
Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, sticky and syrupy.
Overall: this beer is too sweet,unbalanced, lacks all sourness and bitterness in the taste. Tastes like cherry soda, avoid

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 06:51:06 | More by rvdoorn

Wegomlegging

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark with a red hue, and a nice head that vanishes quickly. Nice scents of sour cherry and red vinegar. Taste is nice and understated, with only a hint of kriek cherry and sour Flemish, obviously not added sloppy after the beer. Soft drink, easy to down a few of these. Kriekenbier is not for everyone, and not particularly masculine, but will admit it's nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 04:01:39 | More by Wegomlegging

Long813

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Dated: 16/12/10

A: Dark clear red body with no head and lacing.

S: Light scent of cherries and vinegar. The sourness overpowers the fruit.

T: Faint water-like cherry flavour with a stronger vinegary presence.

M: Light bodied with low carbonation. Almost no aftertaste.

D: All over-meh. Weak in all categories - I could be drinking crystal light cherry water and not know the difference.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 21:42:07 | More by Long813

ThaCreep

Belgium

2.85/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Too pronounced nose of cherries, no acidity in the body and very sweet, on the edge of syrupy. However, mouth a little cardboard as if beer was blocked. If the finish is naturally low in terms of bitterness and balance, there is however a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. For creating this beer, it was probably used an extremely young lambic to be less harsh on the palate.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-01-2010 13:53:18 | More by ThaCreep

philphilphil

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap twice, writing from notes.
Appearance was a beautiful red with one inch head which was the lightest pink.
Smell was of cherries.
Taste was a balanced but kind of sour (good)
Mouthfeel wasn't bad but not amazing
Drinkabilty is high, except price, were it cheap it would probably be the staple drink for 14 year old girls.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 08:42:57 | More by philphilphil

Brabander

Netherlands

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My wife had this beer today. Normally i am not much into this kind of beer but i had a few sips of this beer.

Poured in a Palm like chalice the beer looks very inviting with the pink beerfluid and the lightpink head.

It has the smell of the kriek (cherry) very noticable. The taste is a bit sour with the cherrytaste on top of it.

Is gives a mouthfeel like you were drinking a cherry soda. For warm weather a good drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2010 13:36:03 | More by Brabander

GoBrewOrGoHome

California

4.22/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- brilliant raspberry red, very clear, slightly pink head that holds
S- more sweet then sour, loads of cherry, hints b. lambicus
T- nicely balanced, taste like it smells, tart up front but nice sweetness follows,
M- med body, well balanced, not over carbonated,
D- very easy to drink if you enjoy sour fruit beers, this is a nice representation,

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2010 23:32:04 | More by GoBrewOrGoHome

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.05/5  rDev -40.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Brown 25cl bottle of 4.3% ABV, poured into a Westmalle chalice.

Cherry red in colour, pink collar and lacing, a thin covering also sat on top of the body at first.

Weak aroma for a kriek, not your normal 'in your face' cherry smell.

Sweet and syrup sweet, not a mans kriek at all, kids and sweet toothed females only.

Very un-impressed. Mass produced and you can tell.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 20:59:29 | More by BlackHaddock

RuudJH

Netherlands

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Trying some more krieks, I had to try this, probably the most commercial in this category.

A: it's as a lot of krieks red colour, with pink head.

S: It smells like a lot of sweets, or softdrinks with cherry flavour, allmost artificial. The sour is there, but it's very faint.

T: Also sweet, but there's a dry and sour taste to it too. Not enough to make it real though.

M: It's refreshing to a certain degree (a bit more sour would make it much better).

D: It's quite an ordinary brew, meant for an average palate.
Mostly as I expected.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 15:34:34 | More by RuudJH

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a bottle at the Ibis Hotel bar. Appear bright, clear red with a pink head. This is your typical, but well-made, juicy fruit lambic. Very sweet and with more body than actual juice, finishes with a bit of sour tang, but nothing that approaches a genuine oude kriek.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2009 15:48:53 | More by tempest

kellywilson50

Costa Rica

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Kriek is a wonderful option for those who enjoy a refreshing fruit beer on a hot afternoon. It's smell is very enticing with strong cherry aromas. The first sip has a pleasant sourness and then rounds itself out with more cherry flavors. It leaves wonderful lacing in the glass when you finish. Very drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2009 01:07:43 | More by kellywilson50